Doing It Right: Real Jobs With a Future
Los Angeles
Roxanne Villa is just one of thousands of welfare recipients who saw their dreams go up in smoke when Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) took effect. She had to drop her college cour-ses and find work immediately. During her work-experience stint at the housing authority, she learned about a program called City Jobs.
And today, thanks to progressive leaders in the Los Angeles City Council who focused on making TANF succeed, she is a clerk-typist and member of Local 3090 (Council 36).
Independence
City Jobs — developed in cooperation with Local 3090 — combines work and classroom training to prepare welfare participants for government civil-service positions. Hundreds of welfare recipients have succeeded through the program, winning the security of permanent jobs and the benefits of union representation.
Starting as a trainee, Villa rotated among a number of worksites before choosing the Animal Facilities Bond Program. She studied basic English and math, typing and software applications. Then there was the test. "I was really nervous," she recalls. "I had never taken a city test before." She came through with flying colors.
Now Villa has a variety of duties and faces many options for promotion in addition to the step increases and raises Local 3090 negotiates.
"I was tired of being dependent on subsidies," says the mother of two. "Now I feel secure. I have rights with the city. As long as I perform, I'll have a job."
A home of her own
Across town, Janet Carney and her children were living in a homeless shelter where she signed up for the welfare-to-work program.
Carney's primary job experience had been in customer service. So the best placement seemed in a library. The only open position meant a two-hour commute each way, but to Carney, it was worth it.
"Meeting patrons is great, and you learn so many new things." She is becoming comfortable with computers.
"It's a job that people would be praying for all their lives. I've been on welfare a long time. This is the first real job I've had that's allowed me to get off it and build a career."
After years of struggle, Carney finally has a lot to look forward to: "I would never have thought I'd be saying, 'I'm going to buy a house.'"
Dream come true
"I applied to work for the city years ago and didn't get the job," says Grace MacFarland. She is a clerk-typist with community development and will soon take the civil service test for a senior position in that category.
She is also looking into the possibility of home ownership. "Before, I didn't see it — but now I do. Being in the union really helps. They have people who can work with you."
Over the years, struggling to get by, MacFarland has sometimes held down three part-time jobs. Now there is more time to spend with her 14-year-old son, and she has sick leave and vacation — full benefits. "I feel secure," she says. "If anything happens, I know I'm covered."
